Former Knight nets chance to play college basketball

PALMER — Anton Chamblee feels at home on the basketball court. But while growing up in Kotzebue and then the Mat-Su Valley, Chamblee wasn’t quite sure how far the game he loves would take him.

Now, Chamblee has the opportunity to take the next step in his basketball career. The 2016 graduate of Colony High School and former Knights boys’ basketball standout has committed to De Anza College in Cupertina, California, and will play for the Dons in the fall.

“It’s something I don’t ever see myself giving up,” Chamblee said recently about the game of basketball. “I didn’t really know what to expect. I wasn’t quite sure what coaches would think about watching film of someone who lives all the way up in Alaska.”

But game film landed Chamblee a chance.

Chamblee, a three-year varsity starter at point guard and first-team All-Northern Lights Conference selection as a senior, said he was invited to California for a visit by the De Anza coaching staff after the Dons coaches saw him on film.

“I emailed the game film, and they got back to me right away,” Chamblee said. “They seemed pretty excited.”

Chamblee said he was able to make the trip to California in April.

“It was a good opportunity. I decided I liked it enough, liked the coaches enough to play there,” Chamblee said.

Chamblee said he also had a chance to hit the court with the Dons players.

“It was good to get a feel for the game. It’s a little bit different. Players are bigger and stronger. The game was fast,” Chamblee said. “It got my mind ready for competition at the college level.”

Chamblee, who averaged 14 points and 5 assists per game as a senior, had a variety of options. He was offered roster spots on community college teams in Washington and Oregon, and was also recruited by Division III schools in Washington, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Chamblee said it was exciting to receive that many offers, but ultimately opted for a two-year junior college program on the west coast.

“There’s a lot of good players at the JC level,” Chamblee said.

Chamblee said his goal is to extend his career past the junior college level, and hopes to use his experience at De Anza to land an opportunity with a four-year school.

Chamblee said he plans to study physical therapy, and also has interest in coaching in the future.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.